Adjustable fan support stand



Feb. 18, 1964 o McLEAN 3,121,548

ADJUSTABLE FAN SUPPORT STAND Filed Sept. 13, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [)7venzfarz- James 0. Mel ear),

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Feb. 18, 1964 Filed Sept. 13, 1961 J. O. M LEAN ADJUSTABLE FAN SUPPORTSTAND 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E: Q) 76 3 fi a [)7 ventor'x Jamea O/Vclean QMZZW HA5 A or'ngg.

United States Patent 3,127.,548 ADilUdTABLE FAN SUPPQRT STAND James il.McLean, Milford, Conn, assignor to General Electric @ompany, acorporation of New York Filed Sept. 13, 1961, der. No. 137,798 2 Claims.(til. 24-8-43) The present invention relates to an air circulating fanconstruction and more particularly to an adjustable fan and standarrangement.

It has con desirable in certain air circulating fans to provide mobilefan stands that will facilitate moving the fans from room to room,dependent only upon where an individual user would desire that the fanbe located. Additionally, it has been desirable to have such fansprovide a vertically adjustable feature so as to more readily correspondwith various operating heights that may be dictated for example by thevarying heights of Window openin s. Also, the need arises to have a fancasing supported by such a mobile fan stand adapted to pivot or tiltabout a horizontal axis so as to vary the direction of air flowdeveloped by such an air circulating fan. However, the verticaladjustment of the fan casing with respect to the fan stand has not inthe past incorporated a suitable guide with such fan stands to assist inlocating the fan casing accurately and rapidly with a minimum of efforton the part of the individual user.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newand improved fan stand to retain a fan casing therein.

It is likewise an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved fan stand that is mobile.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedfan stand that will permit vertical adjustment of a fan casing.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved fan stand which will permit vertical and pivotal adjustment ofa fan casing.

Briefly stated, and in accordance with the present invention, a fanassembly is provided having a fan casing with suitable outwardlyextending clamping means defining a pivotal axis through the casing andadapted to engage a pair of opposed elongated plates having suitablelongitudinal slots therein with a plurality of spaced lateral notchesintersecting each individual slot. A pair of spaced upwardly extendinglegs are provided and have the elongated plates mounted thereon to forma stand and base assembly.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing outand distinctly claiming this subject matter, which may be regarded asthe invention, the organization and method of operation, together withfurther objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a fan assembly in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the fan assembly shown by FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a top view of the fan assembly shown by FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, the fan assemblyof the present invention is shown therein and comprises a base assemblyhaving a generally U- Shaped lower front tube 1 in tandem with andspaced from a lower rear frame 2 that is also suitably U-shaped andadapted to receive spaced rollers 3 and 4 such as shown thereon. A firstupper frame 5 is formed to define a generally U-shaped member havingdeformed legs terminating in sockets 5a and 5b to receive respectivelyone end of the lower front tube 1 and one end of the lower rear frame 2.A second upper frame member 7 is correspondingly formed and adapted toreceive the remaining end of the lower front tube and the remaining endof the lower rear frame in the sockets 7a and 7b of the second upperframe member 7. The upwardly extending vertical legs defined by theunion of the first upper frame member 5 and the second upper framemember 7 with the lower front tube 1 and the lower rear frame 2, areparallel to each other and spaced from each other and retained moresecurely in this position by means of a suitable cross member A firstelongated plate 9 is fixed to and bridges the space between the legs ofthe first upper frame member 5' and in conjunction with a similar secondelongated plate 1h fixed to the second upper frame member '7 forms thearrangement of the invention that provides for the vertical and pivotaladjustment of the fan assembly.

A portable fan casing 13 is provided and received between the upwardlyextending vertical legs of the base assembly. The fan casing 13 has amotor driven fan 14 therein which forms no part of the present inventionbut is of the type generally found in air circulating devices. A firststud member 15 and a second stud member 16 define support surfaces andextend outwardly from opposed walls of the fan casing 13 to engage andpass through the respective first plate member 9 and the second platemember if). The stud members 15 and 16 receive a threaded knob 17 and 18respectively, which form suitable clamping means.

Referring now to Pl. 2, a side view of the fan assembly shown by FIG. 1is presented wherein the elongated plate ill is clearly shown. Thegenerally U-shaped second upper frame 7 is shown suitably deformed andterminating in sockets 7a and 7b to receive the respective ends of thelower front tube l and the lower rear frame 2. Cross member 8 includestwo generally parallel side arms 20 and uniquely serves as a bracebetween members 7a, 7b, 5a and 5b. The elongated plate 19 fixed to thesecond upper frame member 7 bridges the area between the U and leavesonly the bight of the U open to serve as one handle 22 when theparticular fan assembly being described is moved from one location toanother. Such movement may be accomplished by tilting the fan assemblyabout the horizontal pivotal axis defined by the rollers 5 and 4 so thatthe lower front tube 1 is elevated from a support surface. The fanassembly may then be moved to a desired location where it is againpivoted forwardly about the axis defined by the rollers until the lowerfront tube again engages the support surface and restrains furthermovement of the fan assembly.

The elongated plate ltl has a longitudinal slot 24 there in adapted toreceive, with a slight tolerance therebetween, the outwardly extendingstud 16 from the fan casing 13. A plurality of spaced notches such asshown at 25 are further provided that intersect the longitudinal slot24. Elongated plate 9 is similar to plate ill and has a longitudinalslot such as slot 24 therein with similarly spaced notches such as thenotch 25 of plate id. The notches in both plates 9 and it), such as thenotch 25 of plate 19, intersect the longitudinal slot 24 laterally toprovide suitable retaining means for the stud members 15 and 16 when thestud members are moved from the longitudinal slot 24 into the desirednotches of the elongated plates 9 and ill.

FIG. 3 more clearly shows by a top view of the fan assembly the baseassembly developed by the respective lower front tube 1 and lower rearframe 2 in cooperation with the first upper frame 5 and the second upperframe '7. The base assembly with the upwardly extending legs thus formedprovides, when reinforced by the unique cross member 8, the light weightyet substantially rigid support for the fan casing 13 incorporating adegree of moenemas as? bility as evidenced by the suitable rollers 3 and4 provided on the lower rear irame member 2.

In operation, the portable fan casing 13 is positioned between the firstupper frame member 5 and the second upper frame member '7 so that theoutwardly extending stud members 15 and 16 engage and pass through thelongitudinal slots of the elongated plates 9 and it such as the slot 24of plate it). The clamping knobs 1'7 and 18 are then threaded upon thestud members to restrain pivotal movement of the fan casing 13 about thepivotal axis defined by the outwardly extending opposed stud members 15and 16. Generally, vertical adjustment of the fan casing 13 is providedby the longitudinal slots such as slot 24 so that when the clampingknobs l7 and 13 are released, the stud members 15 and lid of the fancasing may be raised or lowered to position the fan casing at a desiredheight above the base assembly and in a predetermined relationshipthereto. In the present form of the fan assembly being described, thepredetermined relationship of the pivotal axis would be that of ahorizontal position which is parallel to the surface supporting the baseassembly. When a desired vertical height of the fan casing 13 isachieved, the fan casing is displaced from the longitudinal slots intoselected ones of the adjacent lateral notches and the clamping knobs 17and 18 are again tightened to secure the fan casing at the desiredheight. However, the primary support is now provided by the respectivenotches receiving the stud members 15 and 16 rather than dependingentirely upon a friction clamp means engaging only the elongated plates9 and lil. Rapid alignment with regard to the base assembly is assuredsince the spaced lateral notches in the individual elongated platesdefine equal steps that are in alignment with each other. A lateral orpivotal axis is thus defined which has a predetermined relationship tothe base assembly. By means of the clamping knobs 17 and 18, the fancasing 13 may be tilted about the pivotal axis defined by the outwardlyextending stud members 15 and 16 to any desired angle to direct the airflow developed by the motor driven fan 14. The clamping knobs 17 and 18restrain the fan casing at the desired tilt.

. As will be evidenced from the foregoing description, certain aspectsof the invention are not limited to the particular details of theconstruction illustrated, and it is contemplated that othermodifications and applications will occur to those skilled in tne art.It is, therefore, intended that the appended claims shall cover suchmodifications and applications that do not depart from the true spiritand scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A mobile, adjustable fan support assembly comprising, a pair ofU-shaped tubular lower frame members positioned with their open endsextending generally up- War ly and their closed ends adapted to contacta floor or other support surface, a pair of tubular upper frame memberssupported in spaced parallel relation by said lower frame. members withone leg of each upper member being rigidly connected to a respective legof one of the lower frame members and the other leg of each upper memberbeing connected to a respective leg of the other of the lower framemembers, a pair of wheels rotatably mounted on the closed end of one ofsaid pair of lower frame members to permit the support assembly to betilted and rolled on said wheels, a pair of opposed elongatedrectangular plates each extending between the legs of a respective oneof said pair of upper frame members with the longer edges of said platesfixed to and conforming to the adjacent leg and being substantiallyparallel to the legs of the frame members, said plates being spaced fromthe closed ends of said pair of upper frame members so that the 4-closed ends form convenient handles by which the support assembly may begrasped when being rolled on the wheels, each of said plates having anelongated slot extending between said legs in substantially parallelrelation to said legs and the longer edges of the plates, a plurality ofspaced notches formed in each of said plates, said notches being lateralto and intersecting a respective one of said slots and being spacedalong said slots, a fan casing having oppositely positioned outwardlyextending stud members defining a horizontal pivotal axis through saidcasing, each of said members being received in a respective one of saidslots and movable into a selected one of said notches to thereby supportsaid fan casing at the desired height, and a pair of adjustablefrictional clamp means adapted to cooperate with a respective one ofsaid studs to selectively abut the adjacent one of said plates so thatsaid fan casing may be clamped in a de sired angular position about saidhorizontal pivotal axis.

2. A vertically adjustable fan support assembly comprising, a pair ofspaced U-shaped tubular lower frame members positioned with their openends extending generally upwardly, a pair of substantially U-shapedtubular upper frame members supported in spaced parallel relation bysaid lower frame members with one leg of each of said upper framemembers being rigidly connected to a res ective leg of one of said lowerframe members and the other leg of each of said upper frame membersbeing rigidly connected to a respective leg of the other lower framemember so that the entire supporting arrangement forms a support withthe closed ends of the lower frame members being adapted to contact afloor or other support surface and with the closed ends of the upperframe members extending upwardly to form convenient handles by which thesupport assembly may be grasped, each of said upper frame members havinga portion of one leg adjacent the open end bent away from the other legof the frame member thereby causing the lower frame members to divergefrom each other with their closed ends being spaced a distancesubstantially greater than the spacing between the legs of the upperframe members so that the support assembly will be relatively stable, apair of elongated plates each fixed to the legs of a respective one ofsaid upper frame members within the area between the closed upper endsof the upper frame members and the point at which said one leg of eachof the upper frame members is bent away from the other leg, an elongatedslot in each of said plates extending between the legs of a respectiveone of said up er frame members in substantially parallel relation tothe legs of the frame members, a plurality of spaced notches in each ofsaid plates lateral to and intersecting a respective one of said slots,a fan casing having oppositely positioned outwardly extending studmembers defining a pivotal axis through said casing, each of said studmembers being slidable in a respective one of said slots and movableinto a selected one of said spaced notches to position the fan casing atthe desired height.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,855,245 Kuenzel Apr. 26, 1932 2,201,831 Jacque May 21, 1940 2,521,920Koch Sept. 12, 1959 2,830,779 Wentling Apr. 15, 1958 2,868,558 KraussIan. 13, 1959 2,904,298 Tateishi Sept. 15, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,240Great Britain of 1913

1. A MOBILE, ADJUSTABLE FAN SUPPORT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, A PAIR OFU-SHAPED TUBULAR LOWER FRAME MEMBERS POSITIONED WITH THEIR OPEN ENDSEXTENDING GENERALLY UPWARDLY AND THEIR CLOSED ENDS ADAPTED TO CONTACT AFLOOR OR OTHER SUPPORT SURFACE, A PAIR OF TUBULAR UPPER FRAME MEMBERSSUPPORTED IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION BY SAID LOWER FRAME MEMBERS WITHONE LEG OF EACH UPPER MEMBER BEING RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO A RESPECTIVE LEGOF ONE OF THE LOWER FRAME MEMBERS AND THE OTHER LEG OF EACH UPPER MEMBERBEING CONNECTED TO A RESPECTIVE LEG OF THE OTHER OF THE LOWER FRAMEMEMBERS, A PAIR OF WHEELS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE CLOSED END OF ONE OFSAID PAIR OF LOWER FRAME MEMBERS TO PERMIT THE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY TO BETILTED AND ROLLED ON SAID WHEELS, A PAIR OF OPPOSED ELONGATEDRECTANGULAR PLATES EACH EXTENDING BETWEEN THE LEGS OF A RESPECTIVE ONEOF SAID PAIR OF UPPER FRAME MEMBERS WITH THE LONGER EDGES OF SAID PLATESFIXED TO AND CONFORMING TO THE ADJACENT LEG AND BEING SUBSTANTIALLYPARALLEL TO THE LEGS OF THE FRAME MEMBERS, SAID PLATES BEING SPACED FROMTHE CLOSED ENDS OF SAID PAIR OF UPPER FRAME MEMBERS SO THAT THE CLOSEDENDS FORM CONVENIENT HANDLES BY WHICH THE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY MAY BEGRASPED WHEN BEING ROLLED ON THE WHEELS, EACH OF SAID PLATES HAVING ANELONGATED SLOT EX-